Liberty Group, an insurance and wealth management group, has declared an unchanged dividend despite an earnings slump in a bold declaration of its business optimism.

Nedbank hits sombre growth noteFeb 25 2010 09:09

Nedbank forecasts bad debts will linger and in a downbeat forecast of prospects, pegged economic growth at 2.2%, lower than most economists expect.

Gautrain puts brakes on M&RFeb 25 2010 07:19

Murray & Roberts is funding current Gautrain construction itself amid a dispute with the provincial authorities, which is hurting its profits.

Pretoria- The price of electricity has almost doubled for the man in the street, following the National Energy Regulator of SA's decision on Eskom's tariff increase for the next three years, an economist said on Wednesday.

"For the man in the street who uses 600 kilowatt hours per month, the price of electricity has almost doubled," Nedbank economist Carmen Altenkirch said.

"And the middle classes - who use more than 600 kilowatt hours per month - will be paying more than double for their electricity over the next three years," she said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Nersa said it had granted electricity parastatal Eskom a tariff increase of 24.8 percent for 2010, 25.8 percent for 2011, and 25.9 percent for 2012.

"And it must be noted that the increase will hit small to medium enterprises hard," Altenkirch said.

"These are the enterprises that are responsible for a lot of job creation and they were hit hardest by the recession," she said.

Feb 25 2010 09:05 Report this comment people like you that steal power are half the reason eskom needs an increase in the first place! allen

Feb 25 2010 09:00 Report this comment Future scenario:The rich(the only people who pay) wont be able to afford it and the poor and illegal connectors will have electricity therefore overall consumption reduced and problem solved! Candles in the suburbs........ Mike

Feb 25 2010 08:54 Report this comment I have a promotions & textile manufacturing business that employes 35 people. After struggling to breakeven for the last 8 months, the new electricity hikes will be the last straw, I have decided to liquidate, my staff will be informed next week that they will have no employment as from the 1st of March. There will be thousands more, no doubt...my staff have been informed that they are without jobs because of the ANC, most of them are coloured & they fully agree that the ANC are fully responsibl Freddie

Feb 25 2010 08:46 Report this comment With annual compounding we are looking at 198% increase in total over the next three years. Free Power

Feb 25 2010 08:35 Report this comment How to pay 95% less (or more) anc electricity fees: (a) Analog Meter inside your premises: Meter has a small connection plate on left hand side. Loosen screw and metering stops.Do this after hrs and at night. White Hating Anc Cadres only work some hrs in a day. Switch geyser off when meter is running. This is the safest (legal and other) way. See (c). (b) Analog Meter Outside your Premises: Same as Above - more labour intensive. (c) If the Meter Box is Locked: (1) Get a spare key from corrupt Official (R100.00)./(2) Call ANY unreliable electrical company and get free key with instructions./ (3) Simply cut the lock and follow (a) or (b). (3) Dug a hole from inside your yard towards and past the fence. +- 1 m will do. You will reach the main feed cable. Take a Stanley Knife and remove all isolation carefully. Once the bare 3 phase supply is accessible, make your joint with your newly installed cable leading to your DB Box. You will have to do this LIVE. Fortunately there are thousands of electricians who can do this safely at a fee that WILL be worth your while. Ian

Feb 25 2010 08:31 Report this comment Well done NERSA and ESCUM......you have just put 35 people out of work.....I cant afford the electricity AND the staff so one or the other has to go.......I cant make do without Electricity for my business, so NERSA You do the math here....and I hope Escum will at least be trying to find these people jobs......cos I am sure I will not be the only one laying off staff.......Well done ANC+ESCUM+NERSA Bron

Feb 25 2010 08:28 Report this comment What was the point of the public forums if they didn't LISTEN to the public??? Why must we pay for their poor planning and mismanagement. COSATU and all the other unions need to protest this and the public in general will join in!! Judge J

Feb 25 2010 08:24 Report this comment There are alternative products on the market that can enable your normal family home to go completely of the grid. Maybe a bit costly, but perhaps we should plan ahead and be more self reliant. Eskom needs to rely on us for its survival, and not us on them.......They need some competition for a change... I wonder http://www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article.aspx?ArticleId=1518-25_2573423